The canna flower features bright melon-orange blooms.iStockphoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Here are 10 delicious annuals to look for this year. This is a highly prejudiced list because I love blues, black/purples and surprises.
- Plectranthus "Mona Lavender" - deep green/purple-bottomed leaves, brilliant blue flowers from August on. Best value for your annual dollar. Keeps over winter as well.
- Euphorbia "Diamond Frost" - frothy white; make sure there will be no dips in temperature before planting.
- Euphorbia "Ascot Rainbow" - variegated leaves with lime-coloured cymes.
- Agapanthus "Black Buddha" - a spin on "Lily of the Nile," deep blue/black blooms.
- Colocasia esculanta "Black Magic" - fabulous, almost two-metre-high exotic black leaves.
- Canna "African Sunset" - lush orange/pink stripes on leaves with melon-orange blooms.
- Ipomea "Midnight Lace" - the newest form of this great potato vine has really black leaves, superb in containers.
- Angelonia "Angelface White" - upright, staggering purity of colour; great in containers or in the ground.
- Dichondra "Silver Falls" - another wonderful plant for spilling over the sides of containers.
- Salvia guaranitica "Black and Blue" - speaks for itself.